The Sam M. Walton College of Business recognized more than 90 students for outstanding academic achievement with a special showcase website and a socially distanced awards ceremony in their honor.

While Walton College usually recognizes outstanding alumni in the areas of lifetime achievement, entrepreneur of the year and outstanding service, this year, it opted to honor its alumni community as a whole for their perseverance and support during a year disrupted by the global pandemic.

“The outstanding work done by all of these students is even more impressive when we remember the challenges they have had to surmount in the past year,” said Matt Waller, Walton College dean and Sam M. Walton Leadership Chair. “Each one of them had to switch to remote learning overnight last year and find the best combination of face-to-face, hybrid and remote learning during the pandemic. But all kept doing the outstanding academic work we are excited to celebrate with them.”

“And I have to thank all of our alumni for the overwhelming support they continue to show to the Walton College,” Waller said. “We could not single out just a few for recognition this year because there were so many who did so much for the college through a very challenging time.”

Last year’s ceremony and banquet had to be canceled due to safety protocols brought on by the COVID-19 outbreak. Those honorees were recognized with a special website. In 2021, the college again had a special website for student awards but also had an honorees-only in-person recognition that friends and family could view live online.

Students recognized in 2021 for outstanding achievement were:

Outstanding Graduating Senior
Student who best exemplifies scholarship and leadership at the Walton College

• Kirsten James

Sam M. Walton College of Business Student Leadership Award
Walton College senior who has demonstrated exemplary student leadership in an academic career

• Torey Morris

Presidential Scholar
Chosen by the vice chancellor of academic affairs for outstanding academic achievement

• Sophia Gesualdi

Ralph Treat Cooperative Education Student

• Ruben Chung Loo

First-Ranked Senior Scholars
Students who have maintained a 4.0 while completing all their undergraduate coursework at U of A

• Grant George
• Claudia Holmer
• Catherine Kelley
• Samuel Lipson
• Laura Scott

Senior Scholars
Students who have achieved a cumulative 4.0

• Parker Allen
• Julie Bryson
• Anna Buchele
• Addison Cathey
• Carter Colclasure
• Robyn Coleman
• Ryan Decker
• Angelina Fine
• Kyle Gabrielson
• Katherine Games
• Adrian Hannah
• Ryan Hargrove
• Austin Heinisch
• Mariana Hightower
• Shanon Kubat
• Megan Lafferty
• Eric Larsen
• Dawson Lee
• Austin Lehnert
• Olivia Lukas
• Sydney Magnall
• Catherine Martens
• Ryan Meador
• Allie Mertensotto
• Robert Moore
• Carolyn Murad
• Madison Mzyk
• Mary Paddock
• Ankush Patel
• Kaylin Peters
• Hannah Rames
• Julia Rogers
• Alexandria Rook
• Jared Ross
• Victoria Scerbo
• Grant Watson
• Hayden Webb
• Mason Westphal
• Xinqian Zhou

Outstanding Students in Accounting

• Leah Blassberg
• Ryan Decker
• Madison Mzyk
• Ankush Patel
• Julia Rogers
• Victoria Scerbo

Outstanding Students in Economics

• Katherine Games (B.S.B.A.)
• Caleb Hill (B.A.)

Outstanding Students in Finance

• Cole Couzens
• John Gualy
• Adrian Hannah
• Austin Hayes
• Sampras Helton
• Allison Kennedy
• Ryan Meador
• Aaron Moore
• Alexandria Rook
• Laura Scott
• Judge Van Horn

Outstanding Student in General Business

• Cedric Haulcy

Outstanding Students in Information Systems

• Tanner Diomede
• Kirsten James
• Trey Williams

Outstanding Student in International Business

• Juliann Phillips

Outstanding Students in Management

• Kaitlyn Ates
• Natalie Gables
• Claudia Holmer
• Wyatt Poer
• Olivia Sherrington
• Elizabeth Waymire

Outstanding Students in Marketing

• Olivia Lukas
• Sydney Magnall
• Catherine Martens
• Madison McKinney
• Allie Mertensotto
• Emily Povroznik
• Jonah Rapert
• Samantha Rife
• Hannah VanDivier
• Emma Wright
• Taylor Zatarain

Outstanding Student in Retail

• Sydney Figenskau

Outstanding Students in Supply Chain Management

• Ruben Chung Loo
• Montinique Davis
• Natalie Frauenheim
• Justin Haney
• Pearce Hungate
• Emily Moore
• Alexis Perez

Outstanding Full-time M.B.A. Student

• MaryJohn Richmond

Outstanding Executive M.B.A. Students

• Erica Brigance
• Joseph Rose

Outstanding Master of Professional Accounting Student

• Julie Bryson

Outstanding Master of Economics Students

• Tien Tran Ngo (Master of Arts in Economics)
• Ramon Silvera Zumaran (Master of Science in Economic Analytics)

Outstanding Master of Finance Student

• Kyle Kullander

Outstanding Master of Information Systems Students

• Balaji Hari (Master of Applied Business Analytics)
• Jorge Moreda Marcos (Master of Information Systems)
• Brian Tabor (Professional Master of Information Systems)

Outstanding Master of Supply Chain Management Student

• Olivia Kellstrom

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